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Race Hurting Draft Stock ?

Kurb

By Kurb,
in Carolina Panthers

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Kurb Newbie

Kurb

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http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Aj.Pwv6LMm3v5qNe9JTjOytDubYF?slug=ms-gerhartstereotype042010

When NFL scouts look at Gerhart, they see a 6-foot, 231-pound power back who ran for 1,871 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, getting edged out by Alabama’s Mark Ingram in the closest Heisman vote in history. When they look at Gerhart’s numbers from the NFL scouting combine, they see that he ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash and registered a 38-inch vertical leap, both impressive numbers for a player his size.

Yet they also see a white guy trying to make it in the league as a feature back, something that has become increasingly rare in this era. Peyton Hillis(notes), now with the Cleveland Browns, led the Denver Broncos in rushing yards in 2008, but was limited to just 54 last season in part because of 2009 draft pick Knowshon Moreno’s(notes) addition.

Race shouldn’t be an issue, of course, but Gerhart can’t help but believe that it has colored the opinions of at least some potential employers.

“One team I interviewed with asked me about being a white running back,” Gerhart says. “They asked if it made me feel entitled, or like I felt I was a poster child for white running backs. I said, ‘No, I’m just out there playing ball. I don’t think about that.’ I didn’t really know what to say.”

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Darth Biscuit Mentor

Darth Biscuit

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Oh lord Kurb... what have you started... :willy_nilly:

“One team I interviewed with asked me about being a white running back,” Gerhart says. “They asked if it made me feel entitled, or like I felt I was a poster child for white running backs. I said, ‘No, I’m just out there playing ball. I don’t think about that.’ I didn’t really know what to say.”

This is... interesting... to say the least...

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Delhommey Newbie

Delhommey

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“He’ll be a great second-round pickup for somebody, but I guarantee you if he was the exact same guy – but he was black – he’d go in the first round for sure,” the scout said. “You could make a case that he’s a Steven Jackson-type – doesn’t have blazing speed but he’s strong and powerful and versatile.”

First I've heard of this.

What a race baiting little article this is...

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theyhateme45 Newbie

theyhateme45

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Thought it was desperatly trying to be controversial as well. (gah spelling!)

I was surprised teams come out and ask questions like that tho.

Yea a little surprising... I guess it's was supposed to be a mental question or something..... I believe he will get drafted early and will contribute early in the NFL season... His running style more reminds me of Brandon Jacobs when he came in the league... From the few Stanford games I saw.

Since we're on race.... I was thinking earlier... If The Golden Calf of Bristol was Black I promise most of my older family/other blacks would be saying the reason people want to move him to H-Back is because of his color... Or the fact that some teams don't want to touch him... Then Jerry Jones Rant... This would be the biggest story of the draft by far.... Just keeping it real.

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Delhommey Newbie

Delhommey

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Thought it was desperatly trying to be controversial as well. (gah spelling!)

I was surprised teams come out and ask questions like that tho.

Maybe it's an honestly dumb question (hellooooooo Raiders), but I could see it as a "let's throw the guy a curve ball to see how he reacts" question just as easily. Teams do that quite a bit from what I understand.

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Murph Collaborator

Murph

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One has to wonder if the reporter was just doing a routine interview when Gerhart let that little tid bit out. I'm sure the guys eyes got real big and thought, "I just got a whole new article out of this that my boss will love!!"

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BBQ&Beer Newbie

BBQ&Beer

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One has to wonder if the reporter was just doing a routine interview when Gerhart let that little tid bit out. I'm sure the guys eyes got real big and thought, "I just got a whole new article out of this that my boss will love!!"

Exactly what I was thinking.

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jramsey4 Newbie

jramsey4

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It's not racism, it's stereotyping. And it's pretty common.

One in the same in this case.

Definiton of racism: a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

I really don't think Gerhart should complain too much its not nearly as bad as the African Americans were discriminated against. And I'm not so sure he would be a 1st rounder even if he were Black. He really is more of a power back.

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